The Ghost Ships of Arizona

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Mai crumpled. Grace was gone and two worlds had died with her. Two futures. Throughout her life she had known despair, but this… this… it simply destroyed her.

She collapsed onto the floor, oblivious to all else. Grace stayed with her and she would never let go. She heard Hibiki’s movements and Chika’s crying but none of it was starkly real. Only one stark truth existed.

There would be no more life for Mai Kitano.

Deep character traits bloomed up, forcing her to look at the truth, to accept the facts, showing her that moving forward was possible. But how much could one person take? How much should one person take?

“Mai.” Chika’s voice at her side. Her sister’s arms wrapping themselves around her.

She said nothing, barely able to breathe. All she knew was the lifeless presence in her arms. All she felt was despair.

And Emiko? The girl had survived all this time just to kill Mai Kitano. Now she was dead too. And Hibiki? How would he handle this?

“Mai!”

His shout penetrated her fugue only marginally. Chika was so close now her breath was hot in Mai’s ears, her tears streaming down Mai’s own face. Blood coated Mai’s hands and forearms, lifeblood.

“Mai!”

Digging deep, calling on every ounce of strength she ever possessed, the Japanese woman raised her head. Everything was blurred until she blinked her eyes and then the water cleared.

Hibiki knelt before her, holding Emiko. Blood covered his face too.

Chika knelt beside them both, horror etched so deeply in her face it formed furrows.

Mai saw her family, but still felt overwhelmed. As powerful as she was she could not protect the people she loved. None of them could. Nobody could. Disaster and tragedy lurked around every corner, every curb, every main road and every schoolyard. Not so long ago it had been safe to let a child visit the park alone. Now, even the presence of parents couldn’t keep them totally safe.

Mai looked up at the ceiling, feeling certain she would never move again.

Hibiki’s voice brought her back down. “Mai!”

She glanced at him instinctively, recognizing the tone of utter urgency. “Just leave me with her,” she said finally. “This was not supposed to happen.”

Anger raged inside. What chance did Grace ever have? And she had been such a fighter… so spirited… taking all the bad and trying to turn it to good.

“Mai! I saw her move. I saw her fucking move!”

The words jolted her like machine-gun bullets. Mai flicked from Hibiki to Grace and took it all in. The blood. The body. The eyes that had closed long ago.

“Wha—”

There! Mai saw the movement too. Grace was moving her fingers ever so slightly. The fingers of her right hand. It wasn’t a cruel vision nor a sudden spasm.

Grace was alive!